Looking for an honest Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Sony Xperia 5 VI comparison in 2026? We scored both smartphones on the same six-dimension framework — performance, battery, display, camera, design and value — using identical methodology, so the numbers below are directly comparable. In our overall scoring the Sony Xperia 5 VI comes out ahead 58/100 to 65/100 — a 7-point gap. The widest gap is in camera quality, where the Sony Xperia 5 VI pulls noticeably ahead. On price the Apple iPhone 17 Air undercuts the Sony Xperia 5 VI by 11% ($899 vs $999), which materially changes the value calculus for budget-conscious buyers.

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Sony Xperia 5 VI narrowly beats the Apple iPhone 17 Air in the smartphones category, especially in camera, scoring 65 vs 58. If you want the better overall smartphones, Sony Xperia 5 VI is the recommended choice.
Picking Sony Xperia 5 VI over Apple iPhone 17 Air means trading these off.
$899
Scores are relative within the smartphonescategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 Air | Sony Xperia 5 VIW |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.6"✓ | 6.1" |
| Display Type | OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | — | 2520 x 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness | — | 1000nits |
| Chipset | Apple A19 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB✓ |
| Storage | 128GB | 512GB✓ |
| Main Camera | 48MP | 48MP |
| Front Camera | 24MP✓ | 12MP |
| Battery | 3400mAh | 5000mAh✓ |
| Charging | 25W | 30W✓ |
| OS | iOS 19 | Android 14 |
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.3 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP65 |
| Weight | 145g✓ | 172g |
| Colors | — | Black, Blue |
| Price | 899$✓ | 999$ |
Buy Apple iPhone 17 Air if…
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy Sony Xperia 5 VI if…
Buy the Sony Xperia 5 VI if you want the best camera quality in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Sony Xperia 5 VI narrowly beats the Apple iPhone 17 Air in the smartphones category, especially in camera, scoring 65 vs 58. If you want the better overall smartphones, Sony Xperia 5 VI is the recommended choice.
No, Sony Xperia 5 VI scores higher (65 vs 83).
Apple iPhone 17 Air is cheaper at $899 vs $999 for the Sony Xperia 5 VI.
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy the Sony Xperia 5 VI if you want the best camera quality in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Sony Xperia 5 VI has a larger battery (5,000mAh vs 3,400mAh for the Apple iPhone 17 Air), which generally means longer use between charges.
Apple iPhone 17 Air has the larger display (6.6" vs 6.1").
Apple iPhone 17 Air is lighter at 145g vs 172g.
Sony Xperia 5 VI has more RAM (12GB vs 8GB), which helps with multitasking.
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: June 1, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.